Guns will be front and center for Va. General Assembly.

WASHINGTON – Virginia is a state where anyone may carry a weapon on their hip and during Lobby Days at the state capitol it is not rare to see someone doing just that. Now, just days after the mass shootings in a Connecticut school, gun-related bills are starting to pile up in Virginia’s legislative hopper.

The one that is sure to be the most controversial has been been introduced by Delegate Bob Marshall, R-Manassas.

He says it will mandate that all school districts in the state train at least one person from every school how to handle and use firearms.

“If you’re uncomfortable with a gun, you obviously should not be picked to do this,” says Marshall. “Somebody who can responsibly handle a gun, who can safely handle the gun should be there to protect children.”

Under the proposed legislation, it would be up to the local school district whether to actually put a gun in the school.

There are also several bills that would limit guns.

State Senator Dave Marsden, D-Fairfax, has introduced a bill that would make gun owners civilly liable if their guns are used in a crime because they failed to adequately control them or prevent theft.

A companion bill would fine a gun owner $250 for failing to report a stolen gun.

“Responsible gun owners, who use basic precautions like trigger locks or gun safes to safely secure their firearms, will not be affected by these proposals,” says Marsden.

Delegate Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, is also working on a gun-related bill, which would ban assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines.